Close Quarters

by Angus McAllister

Walter Bain is the self-appointed dictator of the tenement at 13 Oldberry Road in Glasgow’s cosmopolitan west end. For years, Walter has striven to impose his family values – stairs must be regularly washed, noise kept down, and wheelie bins moved back and forth at the correct times.

When Walter is found murdered, there are plenty of suspects among his ungrateful neighbours. Comic book dealer Billy Briggs is estranged from his daughter, with his business in ruins, and Tony Miller is jobless and facing eviction, all because of Walter. Henrietta Quayle, bullied and belittled by the dead man, conceals a murderous obsession beneath her timid exterior. And alcoholic solicitor Gus Mackinnon has even more reason to hate Walter than anyone else.

As Close Quarters takes a look back over the years at the various turbulent relationships between Walter and his neighbours, one thing becomes clear: although only one may be the murderer, none of them will mourn his passing.

Close Quarters is primarily a comedy and will particularly appeal to Scottish readers, as it satirises the traditional and sentimental view of Glasgow’s tenement life by placing it in a modern setting. The book will also appeal to readers of crime fiction.

The author reimagines the Glasgow tenement lifestyle, fuelled by his own experiences of living in flats. There's a touch of humour but there's also an element of crime, the combination of which makes excellent reading.

Keep in touch

Stay connected with Troubador on our social media feeds. Keep up to date with Troubador news and our latest author news.

Troubador is an independent UK publisher which also offers a self-publishing service through Matador. We enjoy the business of publishing, and strive to make the most of our authors’ titles using our 25 years’ experience. We are constantly adding to our author services using new production, distribution and marketing opportunities.